California Mosque Shooting Leaves Three Dead
Three people including a security guard were killed near a California Islamic Center after two teenagers opened fire before taking their own lives in a suspected hate driven attack.
- California mosque shooting shocks San Diego community
- Security guard killed during Islamic Center attack
- Teenagers die by suicide after deadly shooting
A deadly shooting outside a major Islamic Center in California’s San Diego County has left three people dead, including a security guard, in what investigators suspect could be a hate motivated attack. The incident created panic in the area as police and emergency teams rushed to the scene.
Authorities said the shooting took place shortly before noon near one of the largest mosques in the county. Officers arriving at the location found three male victims outside the building. Officials stated that the security guard may have acted bravely during the attack and possibly prevented an even bigger tragedy.
Soon after the shooting, police discovered the bodies of two teenage suspects inside a parked vehicle on a nearby street. Preliminary findings suggest the 17 year old and 19 year old died by suicide after carrying out the attack.
Investigators revealed that one of the teenagers allegedly used a firearm belonging to his parents. Police also recovered a suicide note that reportedly contained references to racial hatred and extremist views. One of the weapons used in the attack was found with hateful messages written on it.
Federal investigators, including the FBI, have joined the probe as authorities continue to examine whether the shooting qualifies as a hate crime. Police are also looking into reports of another shooting involving a man several blocks away from the mosque to determine if there is any connection.
San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl confirmed that children present at the school operating inside the mosque complex remained safe during the incident and no students were harmed. Community leaders have expressed shock and grief over the violence near the place of worship.
